Departing Cats expect big things from Ulis

For now, he's the man left behind.

Next season, Tyler Ulis might just be the man.

Days after Kentucky's 38-1 season ended with a Final Four loss to Wisconsin, seven Wildcats walked away with eligibility remaining. But as Karl-Anthony Towns, Willie Cauley-Stein, Trey Lyles, Devin Booker, Andrew Harrison, Aaron Harrison and Dakari Johnson prepare for life in the NBA, they're expecting Ulis to be the lynchpin of next season's Cats.

In fact, Lyles said, the 5-foot-9 point guard "definitely" will be motivated by remaining behind as so many of his teammates move forward.

"He's a fighter," Lyles said. "The smallest guy on the court, but he's probably got the biggest heart. Next year he's gonna come back wanting to be on top like he was this year. I think he's gonna lead this team and he's gonna do great things."

Ulis did good things as a freshman, serving as Andrew Harrison's point-guard backup. He averaged 5.6 points and 3.6 assists per game. He shot 42.9 percent from three-point range and scored in double figures six times.

The native of Lima, Ohio -- who played his high school basketball in the Chicago area -- had 135 assists, four fewer than Andrew Harrison's season total in two fewer games and 112 fewer minutes. His assist-to-turnover ratio of 3.55 was third-best in Division I.

But for now, the numbers that still jump out to NBA scouts are Ulis' height and weight (155 pounds). They don't dash his professional hopes, but they always made a one-and-done jump unlikely.

Ulis indicated shortly after UK's loss to Wisconsin that he'd be back for his sophomore season, and that he'd be driven regardless of who was coming with him.

"I'm motivated regardless," Ulis said. "I got to come out and play anyway. But for next year -- whoever stays, whoever leaves -- it's just got to motivate us as a team and try to get back (to the Final Four) again."

That commitment wasn't lost on UK coach John Calipari, who told reporters after the Final Four that he sent a text to Ulis the day after Kentucky's loss to tell him, "I'm going to build a team. Get your guys and let's do this again. Let's rerun this."

Given the sheer number of departures, that will be a challenge for Ulis.

But he's accustomed to challenges.

"He'll be fine," Andrew Harrison said. "He's small, but you saw how tough he is."

Ulis won't be alone.

Though he's yet to make an official announcement, Alex Poythress is likely to return for what would be his senior year after missing most of his junior season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.

Forward Marcus Lee, a McDonald's All-American in 2013, is expected back for his junior season, as are guard Dominique Hawkins and forward Derek Willis.

And while Calipari still is recruiting a host of players, he's already landed three of Rivals' top 60 players -- No. 4 Skal Labissiere, No. 10 Isaiah Briscoe and No. 58 Charles Matthews -- in the high school Class of 2015.

But it's Ulis who'll be tasked with blending the returning players and the newcomers into a team.

"You're gonna see some special things out of Tyler next year," Booker said. "He's gonna be a real special player. With the players they have right now -- with Alex, Marcus and then the recruiting class that they're bringing in, Isaiah Briscoe, Charles Matthews and Skal -- they're gonna be a really good team again."